Very nice puzzle, another pangram. Once again, there are quite a few abbrevations, just like yesterday's.

I had fun solving this puzzle. I liked seeing SPAHN (12D: Hall-of-fame pitcher Warren) being clued in a grid. It always reminded me the poem "First we'll use SPAHN, then we use Sain, then an off day, followed by rain...". He was a great pitcher, the winningest southpaw in baseball history. I wish I had this SPAHN Hartland figurine, the original one.

Had huge problem in lower left corner earlier. Had to google STAN GETZ and a few other words.

Across:

5A: Forage crop: SOYA. Inaccurate clue. I eat SOYA product every day, and I am not a cattle.

Easy puzzle for me as well. Just as I was starting to expect that every puzzle from Mr. Silk would melt my brain, the last two efforts from him have been no problem.

STAGE LEFT and STAGE RIGHT indicate directions from the perspective of somebody on stage facing the audience. So if an actor exits STAGE RIGHT, he leaves the stage to the left from the audience's point of view.

Good morning everyone. A little bit under the weather yesterday. Don't know what it was but my stomach was torn up.

Not a bad puzzle today. Breezed through it but probably not in Dennis Time.

Collect Rocks Day. Don't get your rocks off while collecting them.Anyone here remember Pet Rocks? I have one in its original box.

Willie Mays hit his first home run off Warren Spahn in 1951. In 1965, Mays hit his 500th off of Don Nottebart. Warren Spahn was Mays' teammate. Spahn had seen Mays' 1st and then his 500th (reference = "The Baseball Life of Willie Mays."

Pitch woo - to make love. The Sirens can elaborate more.

Irene Castle has been in Xwords before, usually with Irene Ryan or Irene Dunn.

Today is also National Stepfamily Day. "Bewitched" (starring Elizabeth Montgomery) first aired on this day in 1964.Did anyone know that Elizabeth Montgomery (who played Lizzie Borden in the TV movie "The Legend of Lizzie Borden" was actually distantly related to Lizzie? No kidding!

BTW - had Osso Bucco Saturday night and it was great. Thanks for the recipe Xchefwalt!!!

HOORAY!! NO "G" today! First time in a week.Had a little problem deciphering YAWL till I moved my NO BRAIN away from proper names toward the water.I thought NO. BRAIN was a good clue, once I figured out that NO. was number.Wanted TBOND again today. Alas, it was NOTE. No BILL today! So many choices; so little time.I don't think I would consider SOYA strictly a FORAGE CROP. With so many soy products today it is truly a money maker. Maybe better clued as NON DAIRY MILK BASE.Cute! Yesterday SWITCH POSITIONS = OFFS; Today ONS.CC, The IRENE link went to the feathers piece. Maybe it's fixed by now, since I type so slowly.CY'all Later. No wind, No rain, Some sun! May be a good day to clean up yesterdays mess.

DrDad: I agree about RUBY, In fact I had that there for a while, but it just wouldn't work.As to SHAQ, I think that he's been called by the short form for so long that there are people that don't even know his given name. I remember watching him at college ball and even it was just SHAQ.Once these names are put forth to the masses it's really hard to get the whole picture.How about Brett FAVRE?? Pronounced FARVE!

"In general the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the other."=Voltaire

That's a great and precise quote on government MISUSE of our taxes!!!

MAYORDOMO (a "Y" and not a "J") is the correct Spanish spelling for a BUTLER,BUT being a Barry Silk puzzle I'll forgive him. He has been very nice to get into C.C.'s blog and make pertinent comments...

lois,You are a funny gal and really a great sport! I DO enjoy your quips to my inputs...

Mr. Silk, I LOVE this puzzle, and I want you to know that I got SPAHN! Thanks for a sports clue I could get.

I assume that CPAS is short for Certified Public Accountants...right?? I got this through fills.

C.C., nice quote on the power of love. My gemstone is the opal. And, I thought it was Lexington, KY to start with, too.

Creme Brulee, YEA!! I want to join that club. We have a 'Pappadeaux' restaurant in the Chicago suburbs that makes creme brulee to perfection: the perfect custard, with a perfect sugary crust, with the perfect assortment of the freshest fruit...mmmmmmmmm. I wonder if they're open for breakfast?

I got the whole thing today except spoon (didn't know ripa). I had swoon--thought woo went with being woozy, not knowing the expression.I prefer opals--see this one: opalMaybe it's because I'm an aussie.

Good morning, C.C. and clan. This one whizzed by for me. I muttered over swoon, thinking the clue was wrong, but I finally thought of spoon. I have Warren Spahn's baseball, card, but not a brand new one. he was one of my favorite players. I wish the Oregonian would print the theme; it does seem to help.

Such an easy puzzle. It probably means we will be hammered later this week! My only guess was Kelly RIPA, never having heard her last name. Cheney had too many letters for 18A, and Bush did not fit with the crosses. Finally though I got HAWK.

cc: You did not miss anything in not seeing the ALF tv show. It was pretty inane.

Jonathan Quayle Higgins was the MAJOR DOMO at Robin Master's estate in the Magnum P.I. series.

SPOON is an old term for being wooed. Now it is more often used for they way two people sleep when the back of the one partner fits in to the front of the other partner, rather like spoons stacked in a drawer.

Dennis, thanks. I didn't know that C.C. supplied the themes. I darn near sent the Oregonian an email whining. I'm glad I whined here first.Last year I went through "Operation Box", that is, I put stuff I don't look at, but can't part with, in labeled boxes. My baseball notebook is in there with Spahnnie's card. I used to have a bigger collection but I gave it to my son who is more active in pursuit of the hobby. With said notebook are my Model Railroader magazines, computerr books, gardening books and magazine, golf books, woodworking books and magazines and my collection of history and submarine books. I know, I know, my kids may toss it all someday, or maybe I'll suck it up and recycle most of it. If this sounds familiar to you, you may enjoy the following:

Decrudding

As I stand in awe at the gaping maw of the stuff that I hold dearDoes it breed at night or in broad daylight to accumulate so nearMust I walk a line past these clumps supine as I move from room to roomIs it in my soul to be sane and whole lest I keep my crud ‘til doom?

I have college books in some hidden nooks that’ll wave quite cheerilyAnd my magazines that have claimed their scenes and I read them beerily.For guitar I’ve got, so I play real hot, video and tape and bookAnd for fiddle too, if it pleases you, and there’s some to help me cook.

Now I’m trying ways, why I’m spending days so I minimize my hoardIf I toss it all, (and my bowling ball), I’m afraid that I’ll be bored.Not my lessons on golf and “Why you should Rolf” and “How best to bait those slugs”I can’t bear the thought of my life with naught of my loom for weaving rugs.

But my old text books have now left their nooks. Oh I think it’s time to supBut I’ve filled one box with some sample rocks, for I’m giving sculpture upYou are laughing, friend for you see no end to the fix that I am inBut you know inside that you can’t hide, you’re the same with this old sin.

Easy with fun theme. Filled in spoon for pitch woo but didn't "get it" till it was explained here. kittyb: your photo is a hoot. Thought they were kids till I blew it up. Are those all your dogs? How did you get them to all pose like that?

Good Morning All, This was a fun puzzle to complete. I couldn't complete it totally horizontally and had to go perp for a few words, but I didn't get stuck on anything.

I like that Barry Silk reads C.C.'s blog and pays attention to our comments. We got "Richard's Agnew" for SPIRO clue.

It's funny that EARRING showed up when some of us had just been talking about them.

My birthstone is ruby, so I loved Drdad's link. My wedding ring has both rubies and diamonds. When I first saw it, I knew that was IT!

I love this site because I learn something new every day. I didn't know that Fire opals are different from other opals, in that they are transparent, and are orange or orange-red. They are named for their color. Fire Opal Studs. It was all new to me.

Hi C.C. and gang, fun puzzle today, and I was having a wonderful time with it and thinking I was doing so well with the theme words that I tried to fill them all in at once...but for 59A, I put in "Rite of passage" and, of course, it threw everything else off. After I straightened that out, it went well.

Kittyb, very cute "spooky" picture!

Dennis at 8:50 ROTFL! bad boy :) Wanna have a fork an' fondue party??

We are heading for the beach a little later today - haven't been there for quite awhile and our coastline is beautiful no matter where you go. I'll be with my own "pet rock" so will not be looking to collect any.

Good day c.c, DF’s and all!! I’m sorry I haven’t been more prolific here- real life has caught up with me and has limited my spare time. I hope you are all well

At least when given time to do a puzzle, I was given one that was doable. Nothing too difficult and any unknowns (3d and 42a) were solved by perps.

Crème Brulee (and its cousin Crème Caramel) is one of the few desserts I can make well. I know its FLOURless- but its got lots of cream and sugar, and can be garnished with an edible FLOWER to make up for it.

I only get URIAH (Heep) because of the great English rock band of the same name from the 70’s, not from Dickens.

@drdad- you're welcome- please let me know if you need any other ones- or if that one needs tweeking.

Crockett, thanks! I checked the tide table and there will be a high tide just about the time we arrive at Cannon Beach, but there is always a place to go for a walk on the beach, and if our toes get wet, all the better :) We will enjoy whatever we find! Try to stay cool.This should be our last really "hot" day. (might be the last one for the season)

My theme was Sounds Right. Made me think of all the variations of the meaning or right, write, and rite. No wonder English is so hard to learn – even when it’s your native language.

For starters, Right NowRight thing to do Right man for the job Right side out – Religious RightRight to bear armsRight in the way, right away, and right-of wayPut it rightRight angle 90ºRight down to it

C.C. You sent me off internet wandering several times today. What is that flower? Why did you clue it with imt? I’ll take your word for it that there is dew somewhere, evidenced by the flies, I guess. I see that Bill Gates has a flower fly named for him.

The egret ruffle is beautiful, isn’t it? Not the kind of ruffle I thought of; much more exotic. Do you think she is flirting? Wanting to spoon, pitch woo, or canoodle?

And Irene castle – look at the bonnet and pantaloons! Delicious picture.

While googling spooning and pitching woo, I found this poem about knitting needles, called canoodles. Canoodle was an early word for spoon and pitch woo –

The Austrogoths and Visigoths (who sacked Rome, forcing Consantine to re-locate in Byzantium) were commonly known as the "Goths." This is also where we get the word "Gothic," which was slang for Ugly back when Romanesque architecture was considered beautiful. Where the leap was made to teens wearing all black with white makeup, I have no idea.

Dennis,"People fork around that way too". How? I am afraid I don't grok it. What is "fork around"?

KittyB,What exactly is a "Red Hat club"?

Kazie,The other day you mentioned that "We call ourselves the "old broads" (or sometimes O.B.s for short, since we rejoice in not needing those any more!)". What are "old broads"? Why don't you need them any more?

Doesitinink,I like your SPOON explanation, so vivid. Thank you for the song & lyrics too.

I love Barry Silk's puzzles almost as much as I love Crème Brûlée. It is so easy for me to hit the proper mindset to work them in a manner that keeps them FUN rather than a drawn out ordeal!

I had problems with the west and north but it was strictly 'my' thinking. I knew 5A & 7D but 15A's abbreviation for number refused to register in my brain. I finally got it - duh(opal is also my birthstone). Yawl is very similar to a sloop but with an added mast aft(near the back of the boat for non sailors). They were developed to circumvent racing rules but the extra mast/sail created more problems than speed. Very difficult to sail and keep trimmed plus they were very heavy.

There was nothing tough on the westcoast but it just eluded me. I had heard of majordomo but it is far from a common word so it only came with a lot of thought. My first thought was mayordomo which means 'steward' or 'butler' in spanish as spoken in Mexico... but the cross with Fiji stopped that one cold in about five seconds.

I seem to recall someone having previous problems with Lexington(thinking Ky) as a clue for VMI's location in a prior puzzle???

I hope everyone has a bodacious day... even if you're up to your neck in storm cleanup.

Barb B,Your title would be perfect if "right" is not part of the theme answers. I linked that flower because it is a fake, an IMIT. I think the flower flies are there for the DEW because the picture was taken early in the morning. Your "Canoodle" poem is very DF.

Xchefwalt,Hmmm, "Hotspots service" brought you back. So have you been bee-sy gathering energy from your flower(s) lately? How do you like the nectar?

Clear Ayes,What does "white chickens" refer to in the poem? Your plum-coloured bruise reminded me of someone's counter accident with her husband. Remember?

C.C. - it wasn't the Osso Bucco on Saturday that did it. That was great!!! We went to a restaurant Sunday night (the whole day I felt fine) where I had calamari (appetizer) and shrimp scampi (entree). At 3:00 a.m. Monday, it was into the bathroom. Bad seafood, I think. Curled up the rest of Monday in a fetal position. It is hard to drive to the doctor like that, I might add.

Think of a word in the english language that's one of the worst words you can utter, but the word as an act is one of the most fun things to do, except maybe using a different, softer word to describe it.

Dennis, well done!! I'm tearing up too but with a big smile on my face. You might have saved me from explaining MY forkin' remark..maybe, but I'm not holding my breath, or anything else at the moment darn it! Off to the beach in 45 mins. :)

BUCK up Dennis, That's the way to SUCK it up and not DUCK the issue. You had some LUCK and didn't allow yourself to wallow in the MUCK.

Poetry galore today!!

C.C. William Carlos Williams' poem, "The Red Wheelbarrow" is a imagery poem; the wheelbarrow in the rain and several white chickens standing beside it. It is meant to be pictured in the mind, sort of a still-life painting in words. F.J. Bergmann's poem is a response to Williams. While backing over the wheelbarrow, Bergmann also does some unnamed damage to the white chickens. It is an imagery poem too. Think of how pretty the image is in Williams' poem and then the difference in the image after Bergmann gets through with it. Maybe "An Apology" is meant to be a joke, or maybe the poet doesn't like William Carlos Williams poem. Personally, I think the poem is amusing, but I can't second guess the poet's intent.

C.C., we had a mayor of Portland, Vera Katz, but she would not be well known outside the Pacific NW.

I'll let dennis explain his "fork around." (You might want to try a letter substitution in the first word)And kazie will need to explain "old broads" and "O.B." Too hot for me to handle (Yes, I do know the explanation)

Anyway c.c.,it wasn't the old broads we had no need for--we ARE the old broads. The acronym O.B.s is also a brand of tampons, which none of us need any longer. Hence the delight with which we proudly use the term.

Speaking of acronyms, my son sent me this today. It's a partial list he found online of the possible meanings for one of the acronyms he encountered at his engineering job: PPD

@c.c.- Glad you missed me- I missed being here. Hot spots aren’t a problem- no sweet FLOWERS in Florida are. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

I am deeply insulted that you would think that MY Osso Bucco recipe made the good dr. ill. Just for that- if jd doesn’t give you her Coq au Vin recipe, you’ll have to ask real nicely for mine (with MOREL).

@dennis- If there are any misspellings here, its your fault- its hard to see through all the tears and the laptop bouncing from laughing….

@carl- I remember the VMI clue, too. I went nuts thing of ways to squeeze Kentucky schools in there.

Here’s my poem for today:

Once a time upon a stairI met a man who wasn’t there.He wasn’t there again today,I wish to God he’d go away.

big bear - Gothic was slang for 'Ugly'? Really? And after all this time, you'd think it would've changed. Interesting.

DOMO was the name of our Sushi restaurant the other night. I read it means "Thank You" in Japanese. So, Majordomo equates then to "Huge Thank You" ? I could 'chopstick a-round' with that, esp if they were morel characters. I'm in! oops, that's not my line.

Barb b: Way to go on Canoodles! You're showing your DFness and beautifully too! Good job!

Flyingears: I enjoy your inputs. Now we just have to work on the strokes.

Dennis, soooooooooo funny! Since today seems to be "poem" day, here is one:

The Duck

Behold the duck. It does not cluck. A cluck it lacks. It quacks. It is specially fondOf a puddle or pond. When it dines or sups, It bottoms ups.

Ogden Nash

My birthstone is a Ruby! I do love the Fire Opals, but a friend told me that Opals are always supposed to be gifts and not to buy one for yourself as it brings bad luck. Anyone else hear that superstition?

Barb b, carol, and Bea, the ghost doggies aren't mine. A friend sent the picture to me and it cracked me up.

Ken, thanks for "Decrudding." Now I can prove to my family that I am not the only pack rat in the world.

Clear Ayes, I love all your pictures. "An Apology" was a hoot!Thanks for posting the links to the tessellation quilts. I lie "Soaring High," and the third link looks a lot like Jinny Beyer's work. I really liked the "Whatever you give a woman she will multiply." post.

Thanks, barb b! I love the tessellation quilts. I've made a small leaf quilt, and I'd enjoy working with the T-block. There's a pattern called "Inner City" that uses the T-block to create a skyline. The fabrics available now are just incredible. I love quilting!

Yay, Kazie! Old broads and proud of it. And a definite "Yes" to the opinion on O.B.'s. Life is so much more pleasant now!

C.C. I hope Kittyb doesn't mind if I answer your question since I am also a Red Hatter. The Red Hat Society is an international "dis-organization" for women over 50, although there are some younger women who can join as "pink hat" members. It is broken into local chapters. There are no rules, except that the women are encouraged to wear red hats and purple clothes. Yes, it looks silly, but that is the idea; not being afraid to look foolish and being able to say, "FORK it! I'm having a good time and I don't care what other people think anymore." The only reason for its being is for older women, who no longer have the responsibilities of raising a family, to get together and have fun as friends. It started 10 years ago and now has close to 2 million members in 30 countries. The woman who founded it was inspired by Jenny Joseph's poem..Oh, Oh, more poetry.

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purpleWith a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer glovesAnd satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tiredAnd gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bellsAnd run my stick along the public railingsAnd make up for the sobriety of my youth.I shall go out in my slippers in the rainAnd pick flowers in other people's gardensAnd learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fatAnd eat three pounds of sausages at a goOr only bread and pickle for a weekAnd hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dryAnd pay our rent and not swear in the streetAnd set a good example for the children.We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?So people who know me are not too shocked and surprisedWhen suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Women who are fifty or better, gather to enjoy themselves, while wearing red hats and purple clothing. A chapter may be started by any woman, by going to www.redhatsociety.com.

The founders of the group call it a "dis-organization," because the group has no by-laws and very few rules. What has grown from the initial group is a wonderful sense of companionship, and a nurturing network of women who are 50 and older.

Each chapter has it's own personality. Some provide services to the arts, some travel, some gamble, some go to the theater, some just meet to eat. The purpose is decided by the group and its leadership. The only rule is that the members must wear red hats and purple clothing.

Those of us who have met through c.c's blog qualify for a virtual chapter! *G* If you have not made it to 50 yet, you can still be a member, but you'll have to wear lavender and pink.

Poem for the day:

Warning by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purpleWith a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer glovesAnd satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tiredAnd gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bellsAnd run my stick along the public railingsAnd make up for the sobriety of my youth.I shall go out in my slippers in the rainAnd pick flowers in other people's gardensAnd learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fatAnd eat three pounds of sausages at a goOr only bread and pickle for a weekAnd hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dryAnd pay our rent and not swear in the streetAnd set a good example for the children.We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?So people who know me are not too shocked and surprisedWhen suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Dennis - Read your explanation and must issue a "Well Done". But it took a while 'cause I laughed for 10 minutes.I've seen a lot of funny stuff here but that TAKES THE CAKE!!!Nice dancing. You can rest now!!!

C.C. I know you must receive tons of e-mails; But I sent you one called "Pictures of my Garden" with "La Paloma" as the musical accompaniment. I just want to know if you was able to view it, or did I send it to the wrong address?

Want another crazy poem?

Little spider on the wallyou ain't got no hair at allyou got no comb to comb your hair,what do you care--you got no hair.

Carl @ 2:07pm,"Suck it up buddy! I've been there and done that... so good luck & I too am interested on your escape plan. I think the woodshed only has one door.....". Why "woodshed" here? What does that have anything to do with Dennis' escape plan? What's the connection? I don't get it.

@C.C: a) Two relatively well-known folks I can think of are Jennifer Lopez(can't believe one of the men didn't pick up on her) and Alex Rodriguez. AROD is the best short stop I've seen since Ozzie Smith of the Cardinals. Another well-known woman would be author Judith Krantz and one more man would be Desi Arnaz."Beerily" was just a bit of poetic license to get the rhyme to work. The implication would be that I'm reading while drinking beer.Slug bait, or rather slug poison, is a common treatment gardeners use to keep slugs(slimy rascals related to snails) from eating plants and vegetables.@Clear Ayes and KittyB: Thanks for your comments on "Decrudding." It does seem some times that I should back up a dump truck, but I don't know where to start. lol

C.C._ Today was hectic, and I will write comments in the morning.Once a wk I take care of my 1 yr old grandson for fun, and it is really fun, but there it leaves little/no time to read blog.

Names ending in Z:Walter Lanz/ cartoonist

Also, when I was a teen someone called Lanz(he/she must have a 1st name) created a whole line of dresses. It was nice as we didn't have designers for our age back then.Does anyone remember those dresses? I had one and loved it.

This is an old recipe which has streamlined the long process of Coq au Vin to about 1 hr/20 min. I also have a longer one that I make for company.

2 tbsp.olive oil1 4-5 lb chicken(cut in 6 pieces)1 tsp. each salt & fr. gr. pepper1 c. frozen pearl onions6 large garlic cloves ( If you don't peel them, then once cooked you can squeeze the cloves and spread on bread; I never have)

2 sprigs fr. thyme1 lb baby Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and halved

3 slices thick-cut bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/4 in. pieces

1 lb cremini or button mushrooms2 c. reduced sodium chicken broth

1. Preheat oven to 375. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed 4-5 qt pot over med-high heat. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and add skin side down to pot. Cook until skin is crispy and deeply browned(about 12 min.)

2. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp cooking fat, reduce heat to med-low, and add onions, garlic, and thyme. Cook, stirring often, for 5 min, then add potatoes and bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is well browned, about 8 min.Pour off all but a thin layer of fat.

3. Add mushrooms and chicken stock, bring liquid to a boil, and cook until liquid is reduced by one quarter. Arrange chicken, skin side up, on top of vegetables.

4. Transfer pot to oven and bake, uncovered, until chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes.

JD, Thanks for the memories. The first prom dress I had was a Lanz. It had a dark blue velvet bolero style short jacket and blue paisley print taffeta spaghetti strap dress. Sounds awful now, but I totally loved that dress!

Sorry to be so late, c.c., but I've been creating a newsletter.The way I pronounce balls and yawls they do rhyme. But maybe it's just my aussie accent.--No, I checked in Webster's--they're the same sound here too.

Back in my youth in rural America, misbehavior earned a trip to the woodshed(a place where the winter's wood was stored) for a spanking. The 'woodshed' only had one door and the only way out was to accept your punishment and get over it.